This poll is from Rasmussen, the GOP-tilted pollster, which makes it all the more striking:
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows Obama picking up 46% of the vote, while Perry earns support from 39%. Fifteen percent (15%) are either undecided or prefer another candidate. Two weeks ago, Perry was up by three. Three weeks ago, the president held a three-point edge over the governor. (To see question wording, click here.)
Now, Perry’s chief rival for the nomination, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, holds a three-point lead on the president. Another GOP hopeful, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, trails Obama by double digits. The fluctuation in Perry's, Romney's and Bachmann’s numbers comes as a Generic Republican maintains a steady lead over the president.
The debates may be both cementing Perry as a front-runner while dooming him as a general election candidate. When a president has a 40 percent approval rating and he still beats a specific competitor by 7 points, the opposition is in serious trouble.
The Dish 